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FG Trains 415 Rivers Youth Via NISP
About 415 Rivers State youth have been equipped with various skills for employability and enterpreurship by the Federal Government through its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISP).
The graduands that have successfully completed the National Industrial Skills Development Programme would be handed over to the state government on a later day.
The Director-General and Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund, Sir Joseph Ari, who stated this at the closing ceremony of the National Industrial Skills Programme in Port Harcourt, explained that over seventy per cent of beneficiaries of the earlier phases of the programem are gainfully employed while some are successful entrepreneurs.
He said the 415 trainees who have successfully completed the National Industrial Skills Development Programme were handed over to the state government.
Ari noted that the programme was informed by dark and bleak future that lies in wait if urgent and pro-active actions are not taken, particularly in the empowerment of youths and other vulnerable groups.
According to him, “Nigeria’s population will be 500 million by 2050, of this number, majority will be youths.
“As much as the youth bulge is an advantage, it becomes a huge disadvantage especially when they are not meaningfully engaged”, he said.
He explained that in order to avoid the trend, the Federal Government, apart from this programme has commenced series of initiatives including the Technical Skills Development Programme (TSDP), Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), Agripreneur and the Graduate Re-skilling programme which geared towards instilling and equipping vulnerable segments in the society with life skills for employability and entrepreneurship.
Ari commended the commitment of the Rivers State Government in collaborating with the Agency, adding that this action has demonstrated her concern for the future of the youths in the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state Area Manager, Mr Isiwu Emmanuel, said the 5th phase of the NISDP in Rivers State was planned for four trade areas which were selected to meet the yearning demands of the public.
The trade areas according to him, were the ICT, Bead Making/Event Management, Auto Card and Graphics Designing and Tiling.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.